Wonderfully atmospheric and instantly intriguing. Loved the twisted nature of what at first appeared to be a classic gothic thriller. Highly enjoyable.

We all go into books with certain expectations, maybe provided by the cover, or the blurb, or the buzz we get on social media about a new release. I had come to Fyneshade expecting a neo-Victorian Gothic romp with a bit of witchcraft thrown in for good measure. Little did I know my expectations were about to be smashed.

In Fyneshade we follow Marta, a down-on-her-luck heroine who is forced to become a governess in a remote house in Derbyshire. So far, so Jane Eyre. And there is a handsome (almost) Lord, and an inevitable seduction. And there is a locked room with a forbidden secret. But that’s rather where the comparison ends. Because Marta is no Jane Eyre.

For me, Fyneshade was far more like Vanity Fair, displaced a few years, with a strong Gothic setup and some deep, dark witchcraft. Marta doesn’t just dabble — this governess isn’t afraid to lay down a curse on anyone who has wronged her. Marta is sharp, ruthless, at times mean, and will tread on anyone and anything to get what she wants. It’s maybe surprising, then, that I felt so sore for her whenever things didn’t pan out. I really feel like I shouldn’t love Marta as much as I do, but she’s just so much fun and so unashamedly herself.

The supporting cast are also really interesting. Marta’s student, Grace, is a little girl with learning difficulties, who in many ways is just as strident and just as manipulative as Marta. The two make an interesting pair, and right from that outset the reader is left with the suspicion that Marta will underestimate Grace at her own peril. There is the aforementioned handsome Lord, who gives the reader that Gothic sense of dread as we all know he’s up to some flavour of no good.

I loved Fyneshade and ate it up really quickly. It’s a nice read, while still being original and delivering a fast-paced story with plenty of Gothic twists and turns. I recommend for anyone who loves neo-historical fiction, but is looking for something a bit darker and twistier, someone a bit less likeable, and a narrative you can’t really trust.

Fyneshade is out on 18th of May, and can be pre-ordered here.

Review written with thanks to the publishers and Netgalley.co.uk for an e-advanced review copy.

Fyneshade ticks all of the boxes for me - a chilling, twisty, perfectly dark gothic mystery with overtures of magic and some characters that are curiously ambivalent in their behaviour. It's difficult to tell who is the 'good' or 'bad'. if such characters can be determined at the start of the novel.
Our protagonist is Marta, the granddaughter of a Frenchwoman, who may also be a witch and has raised her granddaughter in the same traditions. After the tragic passing of her grandmere, her relatives arrange for Marta to become a governess at an isolated for a young girl at an isolated home in the countryside.
Upon arriving at Fyneshade, Marta discovers that the master of the house, Sir William Pritchard is mysteriously absent. Her young charge Grace has some learning difficulties and Marta seeks to manipulate the child for her own ends. Marta's sole interest is to marry well and she soon sets her eyes on Vaughan Pritchard, who is forbidden to enter the house. Her powera have lead her to believe that a person with the letter 'P' will have a lasting impact on her life.....
Marta is probably one of the least likeable characters that I have come across, yet I couldn't help but find myself being curious about her plans and wanting to see what would happen next. Her determined attitude and singular focus would be admirable if not treatment of Grace.
From Marta's arrival at Fyneshare, the author builds up the tension and darkness in the novel and the reader becomes aware that the climax of the novel will be epic.
One of my favourite years of the year so far and definitely one for the fans of historical and gothic fiction.

This cover is so beautiful and like with so many other books what draw me into requesting to read this. Reading the description also made me interested as I like that gothic and mysterious houses genre.

We have an outsider coming to this house not knowing much about it or the people inhabiting it. Mysterious heirs, aloof servants and all that fun, interesting and a bit scary storytelling which I usually really enjoy in these types of stories.

It certainly delivered but for some reason I didn’t really connect with the story and I cant put my finger on what it was. I draw this back to a “me problem” rather than the book being uninteresting.

Oh my this book has it all a huge forbidding mansion, locked doors, secret passages and Marta one of the most dislikable characters I have ever read it was an absolute joy of a read !
Marta the main character gets a position at Fyneshade Hall as a governess to a young motherless girl and whose father is said to be away but all is not at is first seems and Marta isn’t the innocent girl that she portrays.
This really is a sumptuous gothic tale that captured me from the off it was a read that brought to mind Jane Eyre a favourite book of mine but oh my goodness Marta was by no means anything like Jane !
I story was so well crafted it was not at all what I was expecting it was so much better than that and don’t you always love a character that is absolutely horrible and we certainly have one here.
So for me this was brilliant read and one I can highly recommend and many thanks to Kate Griffin it was wicked !
My thanks also to NetGalley and Serpent’s Tail / Viper / Profile Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fyneshade tells the story of Marta, a young woman sent away to be a governess to a young girl with learning difficulties.

Is Marta suited for caring for children? No. Marta's aim is to marry someone rich. The story follows as she manipulates those around her to get what she wants.

It's a thoroughly enjoyable, yet uncomfortable read with good pacing.

I only wish that we knew more of Marta's backstory to understand more of why she does what she does. For this reason, I've given this book a 4/5 rating.

Firstly thank you to Viper and Netgalley for the chance to read an early edition of Fyneshade. Secondly I know you shouldn't judge a book by its' cover however what a cover, absolutely delicious.

This gothic novel ticks alot of the boxes in the gothic tradition. Isolated house, Marta a young woman who has no relatives concerned about her... and so she becomes a governess, the unseen employer, you can see where I'm going. However what makes this different in the gothic genre is the character Marta who is so unlikeable, usually we connect with the main character wanting her to overcome what life has thrown at her however it's difficult with Marta as she is conniving, arrogant, uncaring,...This could work either way for readers but this is definitely one to pick up off the shelves.

A gothic anti-heroine ★★★☆☆

After her grandmother dies, Marta finds herself swiftly despatched to Fyneshade, a gothic hall in Derbyshire, to act as governess for a young girl.

Marta quickly discovers that her charge is mostly non verbal and won’t require traditional teaching. The master is never here, the servants are keeping secrets, and the son and heir is banished to the stables.

However, Marta is not easily cowed and is determined to make an opportunity for herself at Fyneshade at any cost.

Whilst I enjoyed Marta’s feisty character, I found her uncomfortably manipulative and so much of the novel pivoted around one aspect. However, the novel does have a really compelling ending.

This is a riveting gothic novel, written in wonderfully atmospheric prose. As well as all the traditional gothic elements, there is more than a hint of witchcraft. Not one of the characters is truly likeable but all are fascinating, and most of them corrupt. The house "Fyneshade" is quite a character in itself. The plot develops quickly, with a hint of "Jane Eyre" about it, and the ending has left me longing for a sequel.

Like her most recent previous book (published under the name Claire North - Griffin is admirably prolific, working across genres) this is a narrative-about-a-narrative, although that is only fully made clear at the end. It also works very well as a standalone; heretically, I think it might be even better without the magic-Gothick elements, because getting this insight into a narrator who is amoral if not 'wicked' is in itself fascinating. I did see one major twist coming, but I think this is not least because Griffin is working within a tradition where it's signalled very clearly. Well worth a read, though for my money not quite as good as Ithaca (which cheerfully added a whole section to the Odyssey, in a particularly welcome riff on the currently fashionable retellings of Greek myths/epics). Give it a go.

A superb deliciously dark and seductive read. Loved this historical gothic novel with a touch of witchcraft. Fabulous characterisation, setting and story. A real treat for readers of this genre. Easily five stars from me. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous book.

This is everything I hoped it would be....old mansions, creaky corridors, secret passageways, family secrets, midnight trysts, a gothic governess, and just a pinch of witchcraft. Think Jane Eyre with a sociopathic streak. Think Satis House, but with the cast of Downtowns Abbey attempting to keep it afloat. Deliciously decadent and gloriously gothic!

“Witches exist only in stories for children”

Marta was brought up by her French Grandmere, a woman who was called a witch by everyone in the village but neither her or the mc are witches. When Grandmere passes away, Marta is sent to a widowers remote home to look after a little girl called Grace whose mother passed while giving birth to her. Nothing is as it seems in this dark gothic tale including the narrator who if not a witch what is she?
There are extremely unlikeable characters, including the main character but all written so well and fit in with the dark themes of the book while adding tension and mystery around them all

The author builds up atmosphere and suspense right til the very end when things become clear, her storytelling is masterful and keeps you turning pages.
This was superb, the writing immaculate, the tension building, the mystery, the twists and the characters. I found this to be the best book I’ve read in a while and it will be going in my all time favourites. Fantastic!

OMG how good is "Fyneshade" by Kate Griffin? Excellent in a darkly devilishly way. This is the best bits of the gothic genre and it is refreshing to have female protagonist who is a little bit wicked herself. I really liked the relationship between Marta and Grace, and it did look like Grace and Vaughan did care for each other too. Although I had guessed what was coming, I did feel as if Marta coped extremely well and dealt with things in her own way. The ending though was truly chilling.

Possible spoilers

Absolutely loved this one.
I was annoyed to have to go to work and leave it behind.
It's dark and delicious, and in Marta, has a character that I liked to dislike.

Much of what happens seems inevitable, but there's still little twists that make it so much better than I could ever have imagined.
Never did I think I'd feel sorry for Marta, but unbelievably, as the book drew to an end, and certain things started to sound familiar, I did.

A cracking read.

A truly riveting novel. Marta arrives in Fyneshade as a governess to Grace, where she weaves her plots when she meets Vaughan. I was immersed in the novel and found it brilliant. The character of Marta was amazingly well drawn. I cannot recommend this novel too highly, both for the plot and the characters, especially Marta, but also Mrs Gurney. It is the best novel that I have read for some time.